I had already missed out on an entry into the 6 Foot Track, and I missed out on an entry into the North Face 100 (but am waitlisted for a spot - I'm not holding my breath). I had settled on the Washpool 50k instead in April, and was about to start seriously ramping up my preparations for that race.
BUT... The race organisers of the Washpool, the Trail Running Association of Queensland (TRAQ) have decided to postpone this year's event until October to: "coincide with spring wildflower season".
This threw me into somewhat of a tail spin. Mentally I had been preparing myself for Washpool in April. I panicked and felt I had to find something asap to fill that gaping B-HAG void.
I saw that the Canberra Marathon was in 11 weeks, and started scrambling for 12-week training plans I could adapt to get me there... but upon reflection, I decided it would be foolhardy to do that. Preparing to compete in and run/walk my first 50k is a different proposition to racing a marathon... and that's what I'd be wanting to do for my second marathon... race it and go for a sub-four hour finish. So, I wasn't going to be able to prepare well enough to do what I want to do for my next marathon.
So after taking a chill pill, and collecting my thoughts, I have turned my focus now to preparing for the Gold Coast Marathon in July. That was always going to be my 'A' marathon for 2011. I can now turn my attention to that and know that I have six months to prepare as best as I can.
There are some other smaller races coming up in the meantime:
- The inaugral Sun Run 7k on February 5
- The Sydney Striders 10k Series (I haven't raced in a 10k since I got my PR last May).
- The Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon in May
- And as a maybe... The Macleay River Marathon in June as a possible warm-up run for the Gold Coast.
The Washpool 50k will still be there for me in October, and I'll probably be even better ready for it than if it was taking place in April.
Perhaps this has worked out for the best.
I'm pretty sure entries for the Sun Run close tonight at midnight, so get in quick if you're doing it. (Not me! Too far away from home at such an ungodly hour of the morning.)
ReplyDeleteAlso, there's the Mother's Day Classic (http://mothersdayclassic.com.au/) on May 8th. It's an 8K and it's for a great cause. Probably not one for serious racing, but it's always fun. Maybe the fam would like to do it with you?
Is the Canberra 50k on at the same time as the marathon?
ReplyDeleteGold Coast looks like an awesome marathon.
ReplyDeleteWhy not do Canberra as a (long) training run. Getting a 2nd marathon under the belt - without worrying about times etc, is awesome training for the mental aspect - and fine tuning race day prep etc.
ReplyDeleteHey Ricko. I was thinking of The Macleay River marathon as a long training run a month out from GC.
ReplyDeleteNice job rolling with the punches JayDub, sounds like a wise adjustment and, as you said, there is some upside in doing your A marathon race first.
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